Jet pump



A. Y. DODGE June 15, 1965 JET PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1963MeFzZww z'@/ United States Patent 3,188, "/6 j j 3E1 RUM? Adiel Y.Dodge, 2% S. h llaiu St, Rockford, ill. Filed Sept. 23, 1953, Ser. No.31%,632 13 Claims. (Ql. 103- 252) This invention relates to jet pumpsand more particularly to a jet type apparatus for pumping fluids bycombined jet and centrifugal action without moving parts.

In my Patents No. 3,131,645 and No. 3,134,338, there is disclosed andclaimed jet pump structures involving both jet and centrifugal actionand capable of pumping relatively large volumes of fluid with a highdegree of elflciency. The present invention relates to improvements onjet pumps as disclosed and claimed in said applications and has for oneof its principal objects the provision of a jet pump in which the effectof centrifugal force is utilized to a greater extent and with greaterefilciency than heretofore to produce an improved overall pumping effl--C16I'lCy..

According to a feature of the invention, the propellant fluid and thelow pressure fluid to be pumped are mixed when both are flowing radiallyoutwardly and are swirling in the same direction. The fluids arepreferably mixed in a radially extending mixing chamber which is in opencommunication with a peripheral vortex chamber having a tangentialoutlet opening through which the fluid discharges smoothly.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be morereadily apparent from the following description when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an axial sectional view from a jet pump embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the broken line 2.2 of FIGURE 1;

i FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FEGURE 1 of an alternative construction;and

FIGURE 5 is a partial section on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 4.

The jet pump as shown in FIGURE 1 comprises a main casing or housingindicated generally at it), which is formed at its periphery with acircular or spiral configuration terminating in a tangential outletconduit 11. Radially within the annular vortex passage as shown at 12.,the casing preferably converges to a venturi shaped throat 13. Thecasing may be made in two parts as shown with its outer surface open andclosed by a removal cover '14- 'to facilitate assembly.

At its inlet side, as seen at the right in FIGURE 1, the casing extendsinto a cylindrical conduit tapering at its outer end to a reduced sealportion 16 and having an inlet conduit 17 for fluid communicating withone side thereof. A second conduit 18 of smaller size than the conduit15 extends c-oaxially through the conduit 15 and is sealed thereagainstat the sealing portion 16. The inner end of the conduit 18 within thehousing ll is flared outwardly to terminate in a radially extendingflanged portion 19 which terminates near the inlet end of the venturisection 13; A conical closure 2d is supported over the flared end of theconduit 1% to define therewith an annular flow passage curving outwardlyfrom the conduit 18 and terminating in a radially extending end portion.

The flared portion of the conduit 18 and the closure member 23. areconnected by a series of vane elements 22 which are shaped as best seenin FIGURE 2. As there shown, each of the vane elements 22, has a taperedconfiguration terminating in a flat surface 23 at one end which is at anangle to a radius intersecting the surface. This surface defines withthe tail portion of an adjacent vane element a passage or louverdirected at an angle to ice a radius therethrough so that fluid flowingthrough the passage or louver will be caused to swirl in a clockwisedirection as seen in FIGURE 2. By shaping the vanes 22 in the mannerillustrated, minimum interference with flow thereover is produced andthe outer surface of the vanes presents a generally smooth circularsurface interrupted .by the louvers around which fluid can swirl with aminimum of turbulence.

A similar set of vanes is secured to the outer face of the conduitportion 19 adjacent to the discharge tips thereof as shown at 24. Thesevanes, as best seen in FIGURE 3, may be simply flat strips positioned atan angle to radii through the strips in an annular array to cause fluidflowing therepast to swirl. The vanes 22 and 24 are angled in the samedirection so that the fluid discharged from the two passages defined bythe conduit 18 and by the annular space between conduits 15 and 18 willswirl in the same direction.

In operation of the unit the high pressure propellant fluid, which maybe air, stream or any similar desired fluid is supplied through theconduit 17 to the annular space between conduits 15 and 18. This fluidwill be directed radially outwardly by the flared portion 19 of theconduit 18 and will flow out bet-ween the vanes 24 where it will becaused to swirl rapidly. The low presventuri section 13 and thediverging portion of the casing into the vortex chamber 12. Thetangential outlet 11 faces into the swirling fluids so that they willflow smoothly from the vortex chamber through the outlet. It will beseen that with this construction both the propellant fluid and the fluidto be aspirated are mixed smoothly While they are both swirling andmoving radially outwardly, so that full advantage is taken of both theaspirating effect produced by flow of the propellant fluid andcentrifugal force acting on the fluids. The fluids as they continue toswirl flow into the vortex chamber where the rate of swirling tends toreduce so that a portion of the velocity of the fluids is converted tostatic pressure. It has been found that efliciencies substantiallygreater than those heretofore obtained with jet pump devices can beachieved in this way and that large volumes of fluid can be moved withthe production or" relatively high pressure differentials.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative construction which functionsin substantially the same manneras the construction of FIGURES 1 to 3.In this construction a casing or housing 30 is formed in its peripheralportion with a vortex chamber 31 similarto the vortex chamber 12 ofFIGURE 1 and having a tangential outlet opening in communicationtherewith. At one side the chamber is offset as shown .at 32 to define aradially extending inlet chamber portion and continues as a cylindricalinlet conduit 33.

The other side of the casing is preferably open for convenience ofassembly and is closed'by a closure plate 34. The closure plate extendsinto a cylindrical inlet conduit 35 at the other side of the casing asshown.

The casing is divided by a partition 36 which is secured to the casingwall adjacent to the offset 32 to define therewith a radially outwardlyextending flow chamber 37. The partition 36 is formed adjacent itsperiphery with a series of louvers or openings lying at an angle to thepartition to cause the fluid flowing therethrough to swirl.

These louvers or openings can be formed as shown in FIGURE 5 by slittingthe partition and bending tabs 38 outwardly therefrom attacute anglesthereto.' H

In order to create an initial swirl of both fluids, each of the conduits33 and 35 has positioned therein a spiral vane 39. These vanes may beformed of a simple strip of metfl helically twisted to cause fluidflowing thereover to swirl. The vanes-are so constructedias to cause thefluidentering both .of the conduits to swirl in thesame direction, whichis the same direction in which the louvers 38-tend to create swirl offluid flowing therefrom.

In use, propellant fluid under high pressure may be admitted to theconduit 33 to flow outwardly through the space 37 and through thelouvers 38. This fluid will be caused to swirl initially by the vane 39in the conduit and the swirling will be fortified by flow of the fluidthrough the louvers. The low pressure fluid to be'aspirated is admittedthrough the conduit 35 to flow outwardly in ,the

space between the closure 34 and the partition 36; This fluid isswirling in the same direction as the propellant fluid when the twofluids are mixed at the louvers 38 so that thefluids will mix withaminimum of shock and turbulence. In this case also both'fluids areflowing radially outwardly when they are mixed so that maximumadvantage'is taken of both'the aspiratingefiect produced by mixing ofthe fluids and the centrifugal force acting on the t a j vortex-chamberfacing toward the swirling fluid to conduct 7 it smoothly from thevortex chamber.

a the fluids to swirl in the same direction as they enter the mixing andvortex chamber.

5. A jetjpump comprising :an annular casing having spaced sides definingan annular mixing and vortex chamber having a peripheraltangentialoutlet, two conduits defining two passagescommunicating with the casingadfluids; After mixing the fluids will continueto swirl and will flowradially. outwardly into the vortex chamber 31 from which they aredischarged through the tangential outlet opening;v V

While twoembodiments of" the invention-have been shown and described indetail, its-will be understood that these are illustrative only and arenot to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is? i 1. A jet pump comprising coaxial conduits flaringradially outwardly at oneend to define outwardly flaring pas sages, oneof the passages receiving at its smaller end a propellant fluid underrelatively high pressure and the other being connected at its smallerend to a source of fluid to be aspirated, means defining 'a vortexmixing chamber communicating with the larger ends of the passages toreceive fluids discharged therefrom, means forming a tangential outletfrom the vortex chamber, and

means in each'of the passagesupstrearn from its larger end to cause thefluids flowingtherethroug'h to swirl in jacent, to'its axis, one of thepassages receiving a propellant fluid under relatively high pressure andthe other receiving a fluid .to be pumpedunder a lower pressure, anoutwardly extending partition member in the casing maintaining thefluids separated until they reach, a mixing zone 'in the mixing chamberradially beyond the conduits, and

means in the passages upstream from the mixing zone to cause thefluidsflowing therethrough to swirl in the same direction.

the same direction so'thatlthe fluids will mix and enter the vortexchamber while swirling in the same direction and will continue'to swirluntil they flow out the tangential outlet.

2. A vjet pump comprising coaxial conduits defining coaxial passages,one ofthe passages receiving a propellant fluid under relatively highpressure, and theother being connected to a source of fluid to beaspirated, means defining a diffuser chamber connected to and forming acontinuation of the outer conduit to receive fluidiflowing through bothof the passages, means defining. a vortex chamber connect'ed toandreceiving fluid from the diflus'er chamber, means definingatangential outlet .from the vortex chamber, and means upstream from:the'vortex chamber to cause fluid entering thevortex 'chamberito swirlin a direction to flow smoothly ,out the -tangentialoutlet therefrom; f

3'. A jet pump comprising coaxial conduits defining coaxial passages,on'of the passages "recei'vingga propellant fluid under relatively highpressure, and the other being connected to a source 'otfluid ,tobefas'pirated, angular sets of vanes in the passages to cause fluidflowing, therethrough to swirl in thesarne direction, means defining aft i ha b w me ed s nfiu nd fl -sm ly ou w r h from; m s nin a,

vortex chamber connected to the outer end 'fthe-Qdiffuser chamber, andmeans defining a tangential outlet from the 6. A jet pump comprising anannular casing having spaced outwardly extending sides closed at theirperiphery and defining an annular mixing and vortex chamber having aperipheral tangential outlet, a pair of concentric conduits opening intoone side of the casing coaxially therewith, the outer conduit beingjoined to the casing end wall and the tender the inner conduit flaringoutwardly to define with the casing separated-outwardly extendingpassages discharging outwardly intothe mixing and vortex chamber, andmeans in the passages upstream from the discharge ends' thereof to causefluids flowing therethrough to swirl in the same direction.

, 7. A jet pump comprising an annular casing having spaced outwardlyextending sides closed at their periphery and defining an annular mixingand vortex chamber having a peripheral tangential outlet, a pair ofconcentric conduits opening into one side of the casing coaxiallytherewith, the outer conduit being joined to the casing end wall and theend of the inner conduit flaring'outwardly to define with the casingseparated outwardly extending passages discharging outwardly into'themixing-and vortex chamber, and angular vanes in the passages at theirdischarge ends to cause the fluid discharging from the passages toswirlin the samedirection.

'8. The. jet pump of claim in which the sides of the J casing convergetoward each other outwardly of the discharge ends of the passagestoprovide' a narrow high velocityzone and then gradually flare towardthe outer vortex portion of the casing.

9.'Af ]'et pump comprising an annular casing having spaced outwardlyextending sides closed at their periphery andfdefining-an annular mixingand vortex chamber having a tangential peripheral outlet, a pair ofconduits defining passages opening axially into the casing at oppositesides thereof, a radially extending partition in the casing between thepassage openings, the partition being formed with ope ningstherethrough'to permitmixing of the fluids radiallytoutward from thepassages, and means-in the passages upstreamfrom the last named'openings to cause fluids flowing through thevpas'sages to" swirl in thesame direction. c u A V v I 10. The jet pump ofclaim 9 in which theopenings 11 the partition are defined by louvers tending to cause '[lltfluid flowing therethrough to continue to swirl in the direc tion inwhich it'is caused to swirlby said last named means 11. In a'jetactuated pump, the combination of a fixer spiral vortex housing, meansto supply high pressure propellant fluid and low pressure fluid to thehousing at points adjacent to the axis of the housing to outwardlytherein, means defining a tangential outlet at the periphery of housing,means to cause the high pressure fluid to swirl in said housingcomprising a multiplicity of vanes spaced outward from the point ofentry of the high pressure fluid delivering fluid therethrough in aradially outward generally tangential direction in the manner of jets tocause fluid to swirl in said vortex housing thereby to cause a pumpingaction to draw in low pressure fluid and discharge it at higherpressure.

12. In a jet actuated pump, a fixed spiral vortex housing, means tosupply high pressure propellant fluid and low pressure fluid to bepumped to the central part of the housing in radially outwardlyextending paths, vanes in References Cited by the Examiner UNXTED STATESPATENTS 10/24 Baurnann 230110X 12/29 Loth 230-92 LAURENCE V. EFNER,Primary Examiner.

WARREN E. COLEMAN, Examiner.

1. A JET PUMP COMPRISING COAXIAL CONDUITS FLARING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY ATONE END TO DEFINE OUTWARDLY FLARING PASSAGES, ONE OF THE PASSAGESRECEIVING AT ITS SMALLER END A PROPELLANT FLUID UNDER RELATIVELY HIGHPRESSURE AND THE OTHER BEING CONNECTED AT ITS SMALLER END TO A SOURCE OFFLUID TO BE ASPIRATED, MEANS DEFINING A VORTEX MIXING CHAMBERCOMMUNICATING WITH THE LARGER ENDS OF THE PASSAGES TO RECEIVE FLUIDSDISCHARGED THEREFROM, MEANS FORMING A TANGENTIAL OUTLET FROM THE VORTEXCHAMBER, AND MEANS IN EACH OF THE PASSAGES UPSTREAM FROM ITS LARGER ENDTO CAUSE THE FLUIDS FLOWING THERETHROUGH TO SWIRL IN THE SAME DIRECTIONSO THAT THE FLUIDS WILL MIX AND ENTER THE VORTEX CHAMBER WHILE SWIRLINGIN THE SAME DIRECTION AND WILL CONTINUE TO SWIRL UNTIL THEY FLOW OUT THETAGENTIAL OUTLET.